This is a great all day hike. It has some ladders and cables in place to help with the steepest parts. Lots of different scenery. Even though the owners of the mountain have turned it into a business it is still worth doing.

The closest thing to a horn we have in the eastern US. Grandfather/Tanawha is, to me, the most physically imposing peak in the entire Appalachian chain. The view of it from the Linn Cove Viaduct is nothing short of breathtaking.

However, the view from the peak, looking toward Banner Elk, is horrifying. You can see urban sprawl in the form of houses, neighborhoods, golf courses, apartment blocks, roads, etc. creeping inexorably into the forests that were once unbroken. It's pretty disgusting.